BackgroundManagement of emergency general surgical conditions remains a challenge in rural sub-Saharan Africa due to issues such as insufficient human capacity and infrastructure. This study describes the burden of emergency general surgical conditions and the ability to provide care for these conditions at three rural district hospitals in Rwanda.MethodsThis retrospective cross-sectional study included all patients presenting to Butaro, Kirehe and Rwinkwavu District Hospitals between January 1st 2015 and December 31st 2015 with emergency general surgical conditions, defined as non-traumatic, non-obstetric acute care surgical conditions. We describe patient demographics, clinical characteristics, management and outcomes.ResultsIn 2015, 356 patients presented with emergency general surgical conditions. The majority were male (57.2%) and adults aged 15–60 years (54.5%). The most common diagnostic group was soft tissue infections (71.6%), followed by acute abdominal conditions (14.3%). The median length of symptoms prior to diagnosis differed significantly by diagnosis type (p < 0.001), with the shortest being urological emergencies at 1.5 days (interquartile range (IQR):1, 6) and the longest being complicated hernia at 17.5 days (IQR: 1, 208). Of all patients, 54% were operated on at the district hospital, either by a general surgeon or general practitioner. Patients were more likely to receive surgery if they presented to a hospital with a general surgeon compared to a hospital with only general practitioners (75% vs 43%, p < 0.001). In addition, the general surgeon was more likely to treat patients with complex diagnoses such as acute abdominal conditions (33.3% vs 4.1%, p < 0.001) compared to general practitioners. For patients who received surgery, 73.3% had no postoperative complications and 3.2% died.ConclusionWhile acute abdominal conditions are often considered the most common emergency general surgical condition in sub-Saharan Africa, soft tissue infections were the most common in our setting. This could represent a true difference in epidemiology in rural settings compared to referral facilities in urban settings. Patients were more likely to receive an operation in a hospital with a general surgeon as opposed to a general practitioner. This provides evidence to support increasing the surgical workforce in district hospitals in order to increase surgical availability for patients.

BackgroundIn Africa, a high proportion of children are at risk for developmental delay. Early interventions are known to improve outcomes, but they are not routinely available. The Rwandan Ministry of Health with Partners In Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima created the Pediatric Development Clinic (PDC) model for providing interdisciplinary developmental care for high-risk infants in rural settings. As retention for chronic care has proven challenging in many settings, this study assesses factors related to retention to care after 12 months of clinic enrollment.MethodsThis study describes a retrospective cohort of children enrolled for 12 months in the PDC program in Southern Kayonza district between April 2014–March 2015. We reviewed routinely collected data from electronic medical records and patient charts. We described patient characteristics and the proportion of patients retained, died, transferred out or lost to follow up (LTFU) at 12 months. We used Fisher’s exact test and multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with retention in care.Results228 children enrolled in PDC from 1 April 2014–31 March 2015, with prematurity/low birth weight (62.2%) and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (34.5%) as the most frequent referral diagnoses. 64.5% of children were retained in care and 32.5% were LTFU after 12 months. In the unadjusted analysis, we found male sex (p = 0.189), having more children at home (p = 0.027), health facility of first visit (p = 0.006), having a PDC in the nearest health facility (p = 0.136), referral in second six months of PDC operation (p = 0.006), and social support to be associated (100%, p < 0.001) with retention after 12 months. In adjusted analysis, referral in second six months of PDC operation (Odds Ratio (OR) 2.56, 95% CI 1.36, 4.80) was associated with increased retention, and being diagnosed with more complex conditions (trisomy 21, cleft lip/palate, hydrocephalus, other developmental delay) was associated with LTFU (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.15, 0.76). As 100% of those receiving social support were retained in care, this was not able to be assessed in adjusted analysis.ConclusionsPDC retention in care is encouraging. Provision of social assistance and decentralization of the program are major components of the delivery of services related to retention in care.

In low-resource settings, inpatient case fatality for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) remains high despite evidenced-based protocols and resources to treat SAM. Key reasons include a combination of insufficiently trained staff, poor teamwork and inadequate compliance to WHO treatment guidelines which are proven to reduce mortality. Checklists have been used in surgery and obstetrics to ameliorate similarly complicated yet repetitive work processes and may be a key strategy to improving inpatient SAM protocol adherence and reducing unnecessary death. Here, we share our experience developing and piloting an inpatient malnutrition checklist (MLNC) for children 6 to 59 months and associated scoring system to coordinate care delivery, improve team documentation, strengthen WHO malnutrition protocol adherence and facilitate quality improvement in a district hospital in rural Rwanda. MLNC was developed after careful review of the 2009 Rwandan National Nutrition Protocol and 2013 WHO malnutrition guidelines. Critical steps were harmonized, extracted and designed into an initial MLNC with input from pediatric ward nurses, doctors, a locally based pediatrician and a registered dietitian. A scoring system was developed to facilitate quality improvement. Using the standard Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle, MLNC was modified and progress assessed on a monthly to bimonthly basis. Significant modifications occurred in the first 6 months of piloting including incorporation of treatment reminders and formatting improvements, as well as initiation of the MLNC from the emergency department. The MLNC is the first checklist to be developed that unifies WHO 10 steps of treatment of inpatient SAM with local standards. Anecdotally, MLNC was observed to identify gaps in key malnutrition care, promote protocol adherence and facilitate quality improvement. Data gathering on the MLNC local facility impact is underway. Collaborative international efforts are needed to create an inpatient malnutrition checklist for wider use to improve quality and reduce unnecessary, facility-based child mortality.